How to Enjoy the Good Times with Baylor Basketball

In the “Office” Andy Bernard looks back at his run at Dunder Mifflin and says, “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.” 

Baylor basketball is certainly in the good old days. Had there been an NCAA Tournament, the Bears would have earned a No. 1 seed in the last three. That has happened on eight occasions: Virginia (81-83), OU (88-90), Duke (98-02), MSU (99-01), Duke (04-06) and Gonzaga (19, 21 and 22).

The Bears are also back-to-back Big 12 champions. Iowa State is the only non-Kansas school to win back-to-back Big 12 titles. 

When I covered the 2020-2021 Bears, I wanted to make sure I enjoyed every second. Once Jared Butler, MaCio Teague, Davion Mitchell and Mark Vital announced they were all returning (or in Davion’s case, didn’t even bother to go through with any announcement), I knew the team was going to have an excellent shot to win the national title. 

Over that year, I made sure I could attend any press conference, and despite the pandemic sometimes making travel less fun or the games a little different, I tried to make as many games as possible. Even though Baylor could win more national titles, I figured Baylor would never have a better team than the 2021 Bears. Other than 2015 Kentucky, I don’t think there’s been a better team in my life (I will listen to some arguments though). 

The key to enjoying the good old days is to recognize how special they are. Baylor could be great for the next 50 years. I don’t think Baylor’s going to be bad or head into a program recession anytime soon. But events can change quickly. Looking back through the No. 1 seeds above, it’s shocking how DePaul and St. John’s had so many top-flight teams in the 1980s and to remember that Georgetown was probably the premiere Big East job a decade ago. 

Everyone has a right to use their time and money as they see fit. But it can all be over so fast. I wouldn’t get a second mortgage to attend the Final Four, but the great thing about America is that someone will always lend you money. 

When Baylor’s looking like a No. 1 seed again this season and could win back-to-back-to-back Big 12 titles, I’d make sure to enjoy it. Not many programs have done something like this.

These are the good old days.